The Complete Spring Cleaning Checklist

Get these chores taken care of in May, then when the kids are off you can spend your spare time enjoying the summer. It's easy to have small issues build up, take care of them little by little and your home will always be well maintained. If you're considering selling your home, you'll be half way there.

Indoor Checklist

1. Kitchen & Bath

Examine any areas that could be susceptible to water damage and re-grout, beef up the caulking, or repair leaky faucets. Make sure you check inside the shower at the tops of tiles, near windows, or along the edges of a shower insert. If you have tile in showers or backsplashes, this is a great time to quickly reseal the grout.

2. Safety Detectors

Test your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors and replace batteries if needed. Remember that fire extinguisher in the back of the cupboard? It's probably a good idea to check the expiration date to see if it needs replacing.

3. Trim & Walls

Go room-to-room with your Magic Eraser and clean up scuff marks on walls, around doorknobs, or at the bottom of doors (where the cats and dogs like to scratch). Do some paint touch-ups where soap and water won't work. Take the vacuum extension and dust the crown molding or ceiling corners.

4. Remember the Laundry Room?

Why is it, the rooms we never entertain in are the most neglected. Now is the perfect time to freshen this area up. Wipe down the washer (including the rubber rim inside the door), and run a hot water cycle with vinegar through the washer. Clean the dryer and take a vacuum to the dryer vent. Clean off the counters, wash the window(s) and wipe down the cupboards. It's also a good time to get rid of some of the clutter you've collected over the year.

5. The Dreaded Closets

Give your closets a quick clean up and de-clutter. Yes, that means, taking out the shoes and washing the floor. Remove anything you won't be using over the summer.

6. Freshen the Bedrooms

Vacuum the mattress and flip over if needed. Give the furniture a good dusting and maybe change up your duvet for a lighter version.

7. Wash the Windows Inside & Out

Your best device for washing windows is a squeegee with a sponge attachment and an extension handle. Fill up a pail with hot water and a cup or two of vinegar. Vacuum the dead flies around the window and give the sills and screens a wipe. Take your sponge and quickly wash the window, drying with the rubber squeegee.

Outside, use the following mixture:

2 cups hot water

1/4 cup white vinegar

1/2 teaspoon dish detergent

Scrub the solution on the windows with your squeegee sponge or a soft-bristled brush on an extension handle. Then rinse well, not allowing any of the soap to dry on the glass; voila - crystal clear windows with very little effort.

Outdoor Checklist

8. Painting or Staining

If you've been waiting for better weather to get this job done, now is your chance. This might mean repairing or staining damaged wood shingles, or touching up your trim. This is definitely not the job you want to be doing in the heat of the summer.

9. Lighting

It's time to replace those broken bulbs, or re-adjust the motion sensor that keeps coming on at odd times. This is also a good time to re-evaluate your outdoor lighting in gardens and walkways to make new additions.

10. In the Gutter

If you don't have a lot of trees shading your home, cleaning your gutters could be a relatively simple job, otherwise, it's a bit of a chore. Wearing gloves get a gutter scoop, or just a narrow garden trowel and scoop out the debris. Make sure you begin at the drain end, so you're scooping away from the outlet. Once emptied, blast the gutters with a high-pressure nozzle. Flush out all your drainpipes, ensuring there are no obstructions.

11. The Grill

Scrub the grill, getting rid of any excess grease, including the grates and interior. Replace any missing accessories, and make sure the tank is filled.

Now, sit back with a cold beverage, throw a steak on the BBQ and pat yourself on the back for a job well done!